EPSO SJT exam-day guide
EPSO SJT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID matching your registration
Bring the same identity document you used when registering. The name must match your booking. Exact accepted ID types and any additional verification steps (for example, a second document or a proctoring photo check) depend on the delivery provider - confirm with the provider before test day. If your ID is expired or the name differs, resolve it in advance rather than at check-in.
Confirmation of your booking and session details
Have your appointment confirmation, test window, and the provider's contact or support channel saved offline (screenshot or printed copy). You may need the reference number at check-in or if a technical problem forces a reschedule. Confirm the exact start time and time zone with the provider.
Know your delivery format and platform requirements
Establish whether you sit the test at a test centre or remotely, and which browser, app, or lockdown tool is used. For remote delivery, check the provider's current system requirements (operating system, browser version, webcam, microphone, bandwidth). Do not assume - confirm the current requirements with the provider, as they change.
Run the technical or system check in advance
If remote proctoring is used, complete any required equipment or identity check before test day. Test your camera, microphone, speakers, and connection, and confirm that your chosen room meets the provider's rules on privacy and permitted items. Requirements vary by provider - confirm with the provider.
Quiet, private, well-lit room (remote delivery)
Arrange a space where you will not be interrupted, with a plain background and lighting that shows your face clearly. Remove or cover notes, books, and screens not permitted by the rules. Whether a clear desk policy, a room scan, or a mirror check applies is provider-specific - confirm with the provider.
Permitted items only on the desk
The EPSO situational judgement test is delivered under controlled conditions, and what you may keep at hand (for example, water in a clear container, tissues, or a plain sheet of paper) is set by the provider. Assume nothing beyond your ID and the approved equipment unless confirmed. Confirm the permitted-items list with the provider.
Scratch paper and pen - only if permitted
Some candidates like to note down answer options or decision criteria. Whether rough paper is allowed, and whether it must be shown and destroyed afterwards, is provider-specific. Confirm with the provider; if it is not permitted, plan to reason on screen without notes.
Reliable internet connection and a backup plan
For remote delivery, use a stable connection and have a fallback (for example, a mobile hotspot or a phone number for provider support) in case of disconnection. Know the provider's procedure for technical failure and whether lost time is restored. Confirm the support contact and the reconnection process with the provider.
Read the current official instructions and interface guide
Review the instructions the provider issues for the situational judgement test: number of questions, time limit, navigation rules, whether you can flag and review items, and how responses are recorded. The exact interface behaviour and timing are set by the provider - rely on the official instructions, not on second-hand accounts.
Plan your route or your session timing
For a test centre, confirm the address, arrival time, and check-in lead time, and plan the journey with a buffer. For remote delivery, log in early enough to complete checks without eating into test time. Confirm the required arrival or login time with the provider.
Rest, food, and medication routine
Protect sleep in the days before, eat normally, and take any prescribed medication on your usual schedule. Avoid starting the test hungry, over-caffeinated, or dehydrated. If you have a health condition or access requirement, confirm any adjustments with the provider well in advance.
Access arrangements confirmed in writing
If you need extra time, a different format, or other adjustments, make sure they are approved and recorded before test day and that you know how they will be applied. Do not assume an earlier request has been actioned - confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Re-read the official instructions for the situational judgement test and the provider's rules on conduct, permitted items, and technical requirements. Check that your ID is valid and that the name matches your booking. For remote delivery, run the system or equipment check now, not on the day, and fix anything that fails. Confirm the exact start time, time zone, and check-in or login lead time. Prepare your room and desk layout. Do not cram new material; instead, practise the reasoning approach: read the scenario, identify the stakeholders and the core problem, weigh each option against the values and constraints, and choose the most proportionate, professional response. Keep sessions short and finish with rest.
Reconfirm the appointment details and support contact. For a test centre, check the route, transport times, and arrival instructions, and lay out your ID and confirmation. For remote delivery, repeat a short technical check, charge devices, and confirm your backup connection. Clear your desk to the permitted-items list. Avoid alcohol and late nights; keep the evening calm. Do a light review of your decision-making framework only - for example, how you prioritise public interest, legality, fairness, and proportionality, and how you handle a conflict between a manager's instruction and the rules - then stop and rest.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate. Recheck the start time and time zone. For a test centre, leave with a generous buffer and arrive at the stated check-in time. For remote delivery, close unnecessary applications, connect to your usual network, and log in early for identity and equipment checks. Have your ID and confirmation within reach. Do a brief mental warm-up: remind yourself that the situational judgement test rewards consistent, values-based judgement rather than clever wording, and that you should read every option before deciding.
Read each scenario fully before looking at the options, and note who is involved, what the conflict is, and which constraints apply. Evaluate every option before choosing, and eliminate those that are illegal, unethical, disproportionate, or that merely avoid the problem. Prefer responses that are professional, proportionate, and consistent with the values of the institution, and that address the issue rather than defer it without reason. Watch the clock: pace yourself across the questions, and if the interface allows flagging and review, use it for items you are unsure about rather than stalling. If a technical problem occurs, stop and follow the provider's support procedure immediately, and note the time. Keep to the conduct rules throughout - no unauthorised materials, no communication with others, and no attempt to capture the questions.
Note anything relevant to a future sitting while it is fresh, such as scenario types that slowed you down. Do not discuss specific questions with other candidates; sharing live test content undermines the integrity of the process and may breach the provider's rules. Keep your confirmation and any correspondence in case you need to query the session.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document that matches your registration and follow the provider's identity verification steps. If you are unsure which documents are accepted or whether additional verification applies, confirm with the provider before test day.
Follow the provider's rules on permitted items and the test environment exactly. Assume that only approved items are allowed, and confirm the list with the provider rather than relying on what other candidates say.
Do not communicate with anyone during the test, and do not use unauthorised devices, notes, or assistance. Remote sessions may be recorded or monitored; behave as you would in a supervised test centre.
Do not capture, reproduce, or share test content. Attempting to record questions or discuss them afterwards may breach the provider's integrity rules and have consequences for your application.
Take breaks only as the provider's rules allow. In a timed sitting, leaving the screen or room may be restricted or monitored, and unauthorised absence may be treated as a conduct issue. Confirm the break policy with the provider.
If a technical failure occurs, follow the provider's support procedure immediately and record the time and what happened. Do not attempt to restart or reconfigure equipment in ways the provider has not authorised. Whether lost time is restored is provider-specific - confirm with the provider.
Understand how the test is scored before you sit it. Situational judgement tests are typically scored by comparing your choices with defined effective and ineffective responses rather than by a simple right-or-wrong key, and the result is usually reported as part of the broader selection process. The exact scoring method and how the result is used are set by the provider - confirm with the provider.
Raise access requirements or adjustments in advance and in writing, and check that they have been approved and will be applied on the day. Do not assume a request has been actioned - confirm with the provider.